"Though I came to your sea of consciousness ten thousand years early, I am, in the end, only a fragment of a soul."
"Without the stabilizing effects of the Gold of Life, I still need to sleep to resist the dispersal of my soul. Call for me if there's something you can't handle."
Seeing that he'd managed to encourage Huo Yuhao, Elder Yi said no more. With the experience of his previous life, Huo Yuhao didn't need him to worry over him too much, either.
As Elder Yi's voice gradually faded in his mind, Huo Yuhao clenched his fists.
"Rest, Teacher. I'll do my best to find the Gold of Life."
Not long afterward, Tang San returned with the wine he'd bought and came over to Huo Yuhao.
"Yuhao... did something happen?"
As he drew closer, Tang San noticed that Huo Yuhao seemed a little different.
If he had to put it into words... he seemed more spirited?
"Haha, you could say that. I'm full of energy now." Huo Yuhao couldn't hide his smile.
Near noon, the two boys, drenched in sweat, headed down the mountain. When they passed the stream at the village entrance, Huo Yuhao stopped.
"Xiao San, wait for me a moment."
"What is it?" Tang San turned to look at him, puzzled.
The stream burbled, crystal clear to the bottom. Huo Yuhao stepped barefoot into the water and watched the fish dart away around him.
After waiting a moment, he suddenly struck, reaching into the water with lightning speed. Then he flung his arm toward the bank, and a plump green fish landed there.
Watching the fish flop around, Huo Yuhao nodded and continued.
By the time he looked again, several fish were bouncing on the bank.
"Come to my place for lunch. I'll show you what I can do." Huo Yuhao gave him a mysterious smile, then plucked a few pieces of straw and deftly threaded them through the fish.
"You can cook?"
Tang San was a little surprised. The boy his age before him was far more mature than he'd imagined.
"I should go back and tell my father first."
"Sure. It'll be ready by the time you get here."
"See you later, then."
The two parted at the crossroads, and Huo Yuhao continued toward home.
As Huo Yuhao reached the doorway, he turned his head and spotted Old Jack, who looked like he'd just finished working and was making his way home, one step at a time.
Huo Yuhao raised the fish in his hand and called out to Old Jack.
"Grandpa, I caught a few more fish today. We're having grilled fish for lunch."
Seeing the green fish in Huo Yuhao's hand from a distance, Old Jack quickened his pace.
"Haha, looks like this old man's in for another treat."
He remembered the first time he'd tasted Huo Yuhao's grilled fish. Old Jack had nearly eaten his own tongue along with it.
How could a child make such a delicious dish with such simple seasonings? Could he be the Food God reincarnated?
"Grandpa, we can't eat grilled fish every day. We'd get sick of it."
"I could eat my little Yuhao's grilled fish for the rest of my life and never tire of it. With a skill like yours, old man here can rest easy. Even if you don't become a Soul Master, you can always be a cook and earn enough to support yourself."
Old Jack sighed. More than anything, he hoped the child would have a good life.
Huo Yuhao smiled, expertly scraped off the scales and gutted the fish, then rubbed seasoning into their bellies. He struck a flint, sending sparks flying, and soon a fire was crackling.
Cicadas chirred all around them. Every so often, fat dripped from the fish onto the fire with a sharp sizzle.
As the aroma spread, Tang San's voice sounded from the doorway.
"Grandpa Jack, sorry to intrude. Yuhao invited me over for a meal."
The moment he stepped inside, Tang San saw Huo Yuhao hard at work. The delicious aroma made his eyes light up.
"That smells amazing!"
Old Jack replied with a beaming smile, "Little Yuhao should be nearly done. Have a seat."
Tang San had barely settled into a chair when the fish was ready. Its skin was golden and crisp, and droplets of fat dripped from it as its aroma filled the air.
"Gulp." One of the two boys swallowed, then they both dug in, seemingly unafraid of burning their mouths.
Huo Yuhao couldn't help smiling at the sight. What cook didn't hope to see everyone clamoring for his food?
In their previous life in the Divine Realm, he'd been nothing but a tool to Tang San. Tang San had always put on the airs of a father-in-law around him, and all he'd ever offered for Huo Yuhao's cooking was a perfunctory compliment. He'd never once eaten like this, without a shred of decorum.
He's so different from the Tang San of my previous life. Maybe it's because he's still a child. I wonder what made him into the man he'd become ten thousand years later.
Looking at this Tang San, Huo Yuhao couldn't see any trace of the God King Tang from his previous life.
By the time the two had eaten their fill, Huo Yuhao had finished grilling a second batch.
He handed Tang San another fish. "Take one for your father to try, too. Hurry, before it gets cold. It won't taste as good."
Tang San nodded without refusing, quietly thanked him, then said goodbye to Old Jack and left.
"Oh, I got so caught up eating fish that I forgot to mention something. I didn't remember while Xiao San was here. Never mind, I'll tell him next time I see him."
Old Jack slapped his forehead, then said to Huo Yuhao, "Yuhao, an official from Spirit Hall will come to our village next month to hold the Martial Soul Awakening ceremony."
"The village will organize everything. If your Soul Power is detected, you'll have a chance to become a Soul Master. From then on, you'll be somebody. Be sharp and don't anger anyone important from Spirit Hall."
Huo Yuhao nodded. It's finally happening...
Though he'd known for a long time that his Martial Soul was the Spirit Eye, this would determine whether he could obtain a Soul Ring and continue cultivating.
It would also be his first chance to meet people from Spirit Hall, so he couldn't help feeling eager.
A month later, the Spirit Hall deacon arrived as promised. Early that morning, all the village children who met the requirements gathered at the Spirit Hall in the village center.
It was called a Spirit Hall, but it looked like nothing more than a slightly larger wooden house.
Old Jack brought Huo Yuhao to the site first, and eight more children arrived one after another.
Tang San came last. When he spotted Huo Yuhao, his eyes lit up, and he quickly went over to him.
Besides Old Jack and the children, a young man was inside the wooden house. He was handsome and wore a badge on his left chest bearing three long swords.
Huo Yuhao knew this man was a Battle Soul Master. He must be the deacon Spirit Hall had sent to conduct the awakening ceremony.
Old Jack stepped forward and respectfully said a few words. The young man nodded, then turned to look at the children.
"My name is Su Yuntao. I'm a twenty-sixth-level Soul Grandmaster, and I'm your guide. I'll awaken your Martial Souls one by one. Don't be afraid of what happens afterward."
He spoke gently and was kind to the children, without a trace of a Soul Master's usual airs.
Once everything was ready, Su Yuntao glanced over the group and noticed Huo Yuhao and Tang San at the far right. He immediately gestured for Huo Yuhao to step forward first.
Seeing that he was first, Huo Yuhao strode forward and entered the hexagonal formation.
"You seem to have a good attitude. You're more sensible than the other children. Don't be afraid. Close your eyes."
As he spoke, Su Yuntao let out a low shout.
"Lone Wolf, possess me!"
Hair sprouted across his body and his frame swelled, growing bulkier. His eyes turned green, and two Soul Rings—one white and one yellow—rose beneath his feet.
At the sight, a few timid children's legs began to tremble.
Seeing that Huo Yuhao stood calmly before him, Su Yuntao nodded. This child was impressive.
As Su Yuntao repeatedly struck out with his hands to activate the stones, golden light began to flow into Huo Yuhao's body.
Huo Yuhao had been prepared. Following the sensation inside him, his eyes lit up involuntarily, shimmering with a faint glow.
Su Yuntao couldn't help being surprised.
"A Martial Soul in the form of eyes? There's a Martial Soul like that? I've never seen one before."
He didn't dwell on it and patted Huo Yuhao on the shoulder.
"Though I don't know why your Martial Soul is a pair of eyes, I think you could work in reconnaissance. Here, put your hand on the crystal ball. I'll test whether you have any Soul Power."
Huo Yuhao placed his hand on it. A moment later, the crystal ball lit up with a bright, pale-blue glow.
The light shone on Huo Yuhao's face. Together with his sky-blue eyes, it gave him an almost dreamlike air.
"This... You have Innate Full Soul Power!"
Seeing the dazzling light, Su Yuntao cried out in surprise and looked at Huo Yuhao with burning eyes.
"Little friend, would you be interested in joining Spirit Hall? With your talent, I'm sure it'd take only a few years to outrank me."
Huo Yuhao was tempted. He really was interested in the Spirit Hall of this era.
Historical records condemned Spirit Hall as unforgivable, but after meeting Su Yuntao, Huo Yuhao no longer thought that way.
But then he remembered that Shrek Academy should already exist in this era. Whatever happened, in his previous life he'd been the Sea God Pavilion Master, so in this life he ought to visit Shrek Academy before deciding.
"Thank you for the invitation, Deacon, but I don't have any plans to join Spirit Hall right now."
Su Yuntao wasn't annoyed. He sighed regretfully.
"If you decide to join, come find me at the branch hall in Nuoding City anytime. Spirit Hall will always welcome you."
Huo Yuhao nodded his thanks and returned to the group of children. They were all looking at him with envy.
"Congratulations."
Tang San congratulated him, too. Huo Yuhao was about to say something to Tang San when Su Yuntao's voice rang out. "Next."
Tang San was next in line. Huo Yuhao could only nod and offer him a word of encouragement. "Good luck."
Before long, Tang San's results came in as well. His Martial Soul was Blue Silver Grass, and he also had Innate Full Soul Power!
Su Yuntao was utterly dumbfounded. He'd actually detected two children with Innate Full Soul Power in a tiny village!
However, because Tang San's Martial Soul was Blue Silver Grass, Su Yuntao didn't invite him to join Spirit Hall.
In Su Yuntao's eyes, Blue Silver Grass with Innate Full Soul Power was still a Trash Martial Soul. He shook his head regretfully.
"How could it be a Trash Martial Soul? If only it were some other Martial Soul."
He hadn't lowered his voice at all. Huo Yuhao shook his head. There were plenty of Soul Masters like Su Yuntao in the world.
It wasn't his fault. The entire Soul Master society favored more powerful Martial Souls.
After a while, all the children had awakened their Martial Souls. None of them had Soul Power, except for the two boys.
Once the awakening ceremony ended, the group filed outside. Huo Yuhao spotted Old Jack waiting for them, and Old Jack saw Huo Yuhao and Tang San walking together. He anxiously asked them,
"Well? How did it go?"
Huo Yuhao glanced at Tang San, then said with a smile, "Tang San and I both have Innate Full Soul Power. My Martial Soul is a pair of eyes, and his is Blue Silver Grass."
Old Jack's mouth fell open. It took him a good while to nod excitedly.
"Wonderful, wonderful! Our village has produced two Soul Masters at once. This is a glorious honor for us."